Utah Grizzlies go wild to thrash Aces

WEST VALLEY CITY — The Utah Grizzlies opened with a flourish on home-opening night inside the E Center.

Six days after winning a season-opener for the first time in seven years via a shootout at Idaho, the Grizz needed no such late heroics when they played on their home ice for the first time this season.

Rather than have to come from behind, Utah instead ripped apart its opponent in front of 4,190 fans at the E Center.

Utah got a crucial short-handed goal midway through the second period against the Alaska Aces, added a pair of back-to-back goals shortly after that to lead 4-1 and never looked back en route to a 7-3 win on Friday night.

The Grizzlies actually led 1-0 after the first period but had only played OK. After that, though, they collectively played extremely well, evidenced by the fact that six different players got on the score sheet.

"It was a full team effort," said Utah coach Kevin Colley. "I can't pinpoint one guy because there were so many that played awesome, and that's the start you want to have to the season just (in terms of) consistency."

As it played out, Friday's game turned on a six-minute stretch midway through the second period.

With 5:18 played in the second, Utah defenseman Mark Lutz was sent to the penalty box for four minutes because of a double-minor penalty. The game was tied 1-1 at that point, and it certainly looked like the Grizzlies could be in trouble.

Instead, Mike Walsh fed James Sixsmith for a super short-handed goal 37 seconds into the ensuing Alaska power play, and the Grizzlies killed off the remaining 3-plus minutes of the penalty to completely swing momentum around.

"Situations like that," Colley said, "it's almost a game-breaker. I can tell you it deflates the other team.

Walsh said he felt like he was actually beaten on the play, but he managed to scoot the puck forward to Sixsmith, who finished brilliantly into the net.

"(I) just was able to snatch the puck somehow and heard Jimmy callin' for the puck up the ice, and he made a nice move," said Walsh.

Following that sequence, Utah really got going.

Ryan Kinasewich and Tim Verbeek scored back-to-back goals within 35 seconds of each other six minutes after the short-handed goal, and Walsh added a fifth less than two minutes later to put Utah up 5-1.

Realistically, the game was over at that point.

"We needed to capitalize on it and take control of the game, and we did," said Kinasewich.

All in all, Friday's win allowed the Grizz to open successfully on their home ice.

Utah was a pretty good team on the road a season ago but was only OK at home. It will obviously take some time to figure out how good the Grizz will be inside the E Center this year, but they certainly got off to a good start Friday.

"It's a great way" to open at home, said Colley. "Now the confidence is there that we can win in this building." -->

Utah concludes a two-game series with Alaska tonight at 7 p.m. before heading on the road next week for a three-game tilt at Victoria.

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